Means for washing dishes.



No. 629,082. Patented July I8, 1899.

' W. l. LAW.

MEANS FOR WASHING DISHES. I

(Application filed 1. 2a, 1899.) (In lodal.)

minty 1 3:

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

WILLIAM I.-LA\V, OF NEWIYORIL'N. Y.

MEANS FOR WASHING DISHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,082, dated July 18, 1899.

7 Application filed March 23, 1899.

To all whmn it may concern: r Be it known that I, WILLIAM'I. LAW, aeitizen of theUnited States, residing in theborough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Means for Vashing Dishes, of which the following is a specifica: I

' per arm;

tion.

' I take up the dishes one by one with specially-formed spring-tongs adapted to properly hold dishes of all ordinary kinds and a1- low the grip to be easily shifted and to be varied in force as required for different sizes and forms- The washing is easily and rapidly efi'ected by a'handled swab or'brush with the water as hot as may be desired.

The accompanying drawing'sform apart of thisspecification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the ton gs open and empty. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same tongs closed to hold adish, the latter shown in section. Fig. 3 is a corresponding side view on the same scale as Fig. 2, showing a modification in the tongs.

tions of the first-described form holding different-dishes in several positions.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear. Y

Referring to Figs. 1 and '2, A and B are handles of wood, and C is a spring of hardbrass wire. I

A and B are bentextensionsattached, respectively, to the wood arms A and B. These are fitted so that the bends in both are in the same direction and perform an important function, as will presently appear.

.A and B are blades riveted to the metal parts A" B. The blades are forked, the lowermost, B cut so as to leave two tines and the uppermost, A being wider'and cut to leave three tines. Soft vulcanized-rubber coverings D, in the form of flattened tubes, are thrust on' from the point of each tine of the forks.

The parts A and B are so bent thatboth the blades A and B are presented considerably belowthe line of the handles. The bond insures that when the tongs are applied to Figs. 4 to 9 are outlines on a smaller scale, showing porrinse and set on edge.

Serial 110,710,159. dra as.)

grasp a plate, platter, or other nearly fiat dish and are thrust inward sufficiently thereon the under side of .the dish bridges across, bearing at the front ends of the blade 13 and a considerable distancev back on the bent handle B. This is important in connection with another featu rethe shorter length of the up- The upper blade. A descends in such position that its frontedge is presented ,between the two bearing-points in the lower arm. If'the article seized is nearly or quite plane, the tongs come to a bearing sooner. If, on the contrary, the article seized is very dishingj the tongs will close farther. This allows the device to take a firm hold of the great variety of plates, saucers, &c., inclndsented that the narrow blade will go inside.

Itis for some reasons preferable to have the lower blade the narrower, as shown in Fig. 1. In such case it is easy to turn the hand and present the narrow blade B? uppermost in seizing a cup.

Suppose a tier of dinner-plates to be lying in an ordinary dish-pan. The water coverin g them may be boiling. The operator holding the tongs in the left hand, thrust-s them with the lower blade under the uppermost dish, and on closing,holds the uppermost plate firmly between the soft-coated'blades. The washing is rapidly done with a handled brush worked by the other hand, or it may be a dishmop or other swab. The hold of the tongs isdex'terously shifted once or twice during the operation, so that all the surface is accessible to the treatment. The dish can be rapidly passed through a second water for a V The heat will usually dry the dishes without wiping.

Modifications may be made without depart ing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I attach importance to the facility for easily removing and replacing the coverings D, applying from the front edge and removing by returning them again toward the front on the several tines. I attach importance to soft rubber as the material for the covering, not onlyon account after it is in place, but also its highly-frictional quality aiding it to hold the dishes firmly with a moderate grasping force; but other soft material, as felt or knitted fabrics possessing those qualities in a less degree, may serve. I have shown the lowermost blade extending beyond the uppermost, but the reverse condition may obtain, if preferred. Fig. 3 shows the latter condition. I may employ other modes of securing the spring 0 to the handles A B. Figs. 1 and2show the spring fastened by inserting its ends longitudinally into the wood. Another good way is shown in Fig. 3, where the wire extends along a groove in each handle with the ends bent at right angles and thrust into corresponding holes in the wood. In such case the fastening is secured by one or more staples E, partially embracing the wire and driven firmly into the Wood.

I claim as my invention 1. Ton s for washing dishes, comprising armsA L of wood or analogous non-conductbent in the same direction, a spring 0, connecting them at one end, blades or widened portions A B at the free ends of the extensions and of difierent widths forked, and

removable soft coverings D, on the tines of said forks, combined and arranged to serve substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM I. LA\V.

\Vitnesses:

J. B. 'CLAU ICE, M. F. BOYLE. 

